Smyrna times., 1887-02-16

heavens and this was Friday! began |
to wonder if the water in the Missis-
sippi was very cold-supposing one
could cut hole in the ice-or if poison |
were better, and had really worked
myself into a comfortable sort of gloom, |
when in came that Internal boy again |
and handed me note which looked as
If it had been kicking about in the |
streets for month. I knew the writ |
ing at Once-it was hers; and in my |
joy l gave the lad fifty cents and told
him he might have a holiday next
week, and go to his grandmother's fun.
eral-having Il dim idea that he had
once or twice asked leave of absence
for that purpose.
" My dear George" 50 ran the note.
" | am locked up in my room and am
crying all the time. Aunt comes to the !
door every hour and shouts, yes, shouts
through the keyhole; Have you heard
from George? you ought to see him
with black eye. lie is so lovely-it's |
so becoming and other horrid things
like that. She is going to take me
away tomorrow, and carry me off to
Europe, and oh, George, l shall die, l
know l shall. But must tell YOU how
to see me once more. She has prom
ised Mrs. Smith-JOnes THAT horrid
wOman!l to 60 with her and see the
tobOggan slide tomorrow, at IL o'clock,
and she is afraid to leave me behind,
and will be obliged to take me with
her Do you understand? This is
our last chance, but what can we do E?
We leave at O'Clock, and my cousin
Tom will arrive about to go back with
us and act as policeman on our Jour
ney. Susan, the house-maid, is going
to take the note to you. If it is
little stained and yellow don't mind, as
| have to send it out in the colTeepot
with the breakfast things. for aunt is
the only person who comes into the
room-she brings in all my meals her.
SELF Goodbye, dear, dear George.
Your unhappy but loving JULIA.
P. S.-Of course there is no possible
use i'll my thinking anything could
happen--I wouldn't run away if
could, but l will take my jewelry with
me.
P. P. 81 have promised Susan,
through the keyhole, that you will give
her s..
rushed into the outer office, and
there sat Susan, pretty girl, whom
had often seen flirting desperately with
one of the young clerks, who is really
incOrrigible. and has been caught max
ing love to the scrub woman when
other material failed He blushed on
seeing me, and dipped the wrong end
Of the pen in the ink | called the
girl into my office and gave her $40 in
stead of S5, and heard all of the partic-
ulars of Julia's Imprisonment, and how
Mrs. Jupp was abusing the whole
household and raising Cain generally.
4 She had deposited pail of water and
a broom in the hail behind the door,
and had given strict orders to the SER
wants to summon her instantly should
l present myself again at the house.
Susan said it was quite settled that the
old lady would go to the tObOggan
slide the next day and take her niece
with her, and that they were packing
up everything and would leave in the
afternoon.
&" Tell Miss Julia, Susan" said l,
" that | will be there without fail, will
wear my toboggan suit, as the old lady
i mean Mrs. Jupp-may not recog-
nize me in it at first"
Very we'll" said Susan, land if
Miss Julias a-going down in one of
them things, I'd best tell her to put on
thick stockings"
| looked at Susan, and Susan looked
at me, and then | burst into the other
Office and borrowed s. with which in
addition TO her capital, the maiden de-
parted smiling. Bright girl, that Susan
l shall not forget her.
We were in the height of the much
talked-of carnival" so next day ap-
peared in the uniform of the club to
which l belonged, painfully conscious
that my legs, particularly the lower
half of them clad in red stockings, were
out of proportion to the rest of my per-
son, which was much enlarged by the
blanket suit, sash, etc. As to my feet
they had never looked so large and
clumsy, and l was disgusted at the
effect.
The first thing did was to go to a
livery stable and make private and
confidential arrangements, which had
to do with a fast team, a good sleigh,
and an intelligent driver-One who
knew the city well, and his business.
l then got my toboggan and started for
the slide. where l found hundreds of
people already cOngregated. some look
ing on, others dashing down the hill at
railroad speed, one toboggan following
another as fast as they could manage.
1t was a long slide, over a mile in
length, and walk back to the stating
point was a slow and tedious matter.
drew the tObOggan on one side, and
keeping myself pretty well screened
from view, watched the various parties
as they came slowly up the hill laugh
ing and talking and occasionally paus-
ing to enjoy the sight. 1t was a beau
tiful day, cool and clear, with a bright
sun shining on the glittering snow,
which flew into the air like diamond
dust before the tOboggans as they sped
down the steep incline with their merry
loads.
Suddenly saw the hated cOrkscrew
curls of Mrs. Iupp as she sailed into
view closely watching my dearest girl,
who looked more charming than ever
in spite Of her confinement and tears
The meddlesOme Mrs. Smith-JOnes was
with them and evidently in the secret
for her lips were pressed tightly together